In court Thursday, the prosecutor said the minimum state prison sentence for the plea would have been 42 months and the maximum possible sentence would be 30 years.

"He should be prosecuted," said Walter Ketcham, the former Expressway Board Chairman, who asked for the state attorney investigation.

Batterson said his desire is to go to trial.

His lawyer said Thursday that his reasoning for wanting to go to trial was "because he's not guilty." His attorney said the fact that the state dropped one charge already shows that it's case is weakening.

Batterson's trial is set for Monday, July 28, at 8:30 a.m.

A new agency

Ketcham joined other new members of the Central Florida Expressway Authority, which was created by lawmakers to make the leadership of the agency, which handles your toll dollars and controls 109 miles of roads, made up mostly of elected leaders.

The hope was to create an agency that was accountable to voters, though, some doubt it.

"Why should any highway commuter believe in or trust the new and improved Central Florida Expressway Authority will be any different?" said Sally Baptiste, toll road opponent.

Orlando's Mayor Buddy Dyer said the new board will prove that it will be different.

"We need to be very vigilant that any perception is erased, and that we do everything in exactly the right way," Dyer said.